It's been an extraordinary year and a half for John Garnjost. In 1999, he capped a 29-year international umpiring career by reffing the men's eight final at the 1999 World Championships in St. Catharine's, one of the best men's eights races we've seen in a while.

In September 6, he was awarded the Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee, a truly rarified honor. Garnjost is the 53rd American to receive the award, and exceptional in that it was awarded for the first time to an American for "work done on foreign soil, beyond the border" as noted by Bill Shannon. In addition to his broader contributions to rowing, Garnjost is considered the "father of rowing in Taiwan" thanks to his efforts to establish and encourage rowing there. He assisted in the formation of the Chinese Taipei Amateur Rowing Association, and served as a delegate for the association when it became an official FISA member in 1983.

The Olympic Order is considered the highest Olympic distinction, and "is awarded to recognize an individual who has illustrated the Olympic ideal through his/her action, has achieved remarkable merit in the sporting world, or has rendered outstanding services to the Olympic cause, either through his own personal achievement or his contribution to the development of sport. Nominations are proposed by the Olympic Orders Council and decided upon by the Executive Board. Among the personalities that received the Olympic Order are Fanny Blankers-Koen, Jean Borotra, Jean-Claude Killy, Bertrand Piccard, Jesse Owens, Mrs. Indira Gandhi and Mr. Nelson Mandela. Rowers who have received the award include John B. Kelly, Jr. and Anita De Frantz.

Then in December, he was awarded the Carlin Award at the USRowing annual convention in Tacoma, WA, awarded only 16 times in the past 30 years "to an individual who has made significant and outstanding commitments in support of rowing."

Each award is the culmination of a lifetime of service. Suitably, officiating the men's eight final was a homecoming of sorts for Garnjost; he took his first international exam at St. Kitts some 29 years earlier. And his road to the Olympic Order began some four decades ago.

Garnjost first landed in Taiwan in 1958 as an Air Force pilot just two years out of Columbia University, where he was a four-year oarsman and the only senior on the heavyweight squad. After his military stint, he returned to Columbia for three years to earn his MBA, and it was then Garnjost became active as a judge-referee for Columbia races on the Harlem River, first as flag judge, then as a timer in the umpire's launch. Columbia head coach Carl Ullrich submitted Garnjost's name to the ECAC as a referee candidate, and so began a long career as a judge that hasn't ceased even today. (Garnjost's USRowing judge-referee license is #10.)

Meanwhile, Garnjost professional career found him as CEO of Bristol Myers in Malaysia, based in Singapore. In 1982, he went to Lucerne to renew his international umpire's license, staying in touch with the international elite rowing community. A few months later, Garnjost was notified of his fateful transfer to Bristol Myers Taiwan location, and he moved there in 1983.

After he arrived in Taiwan, Garnjost was tapped by Thomi Keller to assist the fledgling Chinese Taipei Amateur Rowing Association. Over the course of the past 17 years, Garnjost helped the sport of rowing establish a foothold in the tiny country, helped the association become a member of FISA, established the still-thriving I-Lan Invitational Regatta, helped create and run the Asian Games, helped establish the Asian Olympic Qualifying regatta, and assisted with team efforts that saw a Taiwanese crew barely miss qualification for the Sydney Olympic Games. As is his habit, Garnjost credits other people and forces with his successes.

"I was fortunate that the Olympics were in Korea in 1988," Garnjost said, noting that the Games raised the profile of rowing throughout Asia. "It took a lot of effort from many people to make this work, and I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. I had something to offer, but it was up to them to make it happen."

Garnjost recalls a visit from former FISA head Thomi Keller, who stood on a bridge with Garnjost surveying a site on the Tung Shan River in the city of Lo-Tung.

"It had a straightaway, and though tidal, there was a dam with which they could control the flow," Garnjost recalls. "But I told Thomi we don't have this, we don't have that, and he said not to worry. We weren't trying to host the World Championships, we were just trying to get the sport off the ground."

That site became the course on which the I-Lan regatta is held today, the birthplace of rowing in Taiwan.

Garnjost's efforts there continue; he attends, umpires, and helps run the I-Lan regatta each year. Taiwan now can boast of an internationally proven race course, which hosted the Asian Championships in 1999; two FISA umpires; rowers throughout the country; and serves as an inspiration to other Asian countries looking to encourage rowing. But there's still more to do.

"They still want to compete in the Olympics," Garnjost notes. "Last year, they sent a lightweight men's single and a lightweight men's double to St. Catharines, and in the Asian qualifier missed Olympic qualification by only one place. It was a disappointment, as they had put considerable resources into this effort."

Garnjost's efforts in Taiwan continue, including a plan to run a headrace. "The rivers run through the middle of the city, so having a head makes great sense," he said. Additionally, the country confronts the local politics that all rowing communities face. When athletes succeed and earn financial support, their coaches are paid as well. As a result, coaches and clubs are reluctant to cooperate and share resources and athletes.

(Garnjost suggested this may be a problem endemic to Chinese culture, but row2k would note that we'll find that all over in our sport, whether within college programs, in large, eager rowing communities like those in Philadelphia and Boston, or at the national team level. It's all part of the politics of the sport.)

Many award recipients take their moment in the lights to thank their closest supporters, and to run through a well-earned recounting of their own contributions and achievements, and none can fault them; indeed, this is the entire point of singling out someone for selfless and mighty toil. But as might be expected of a man who has worked almost exclusively behind the scenes, Garnjost dedicated his award to all those who work behind the scenes.

See the text of his acceptance speech here.

What does Garnjost think of his banner year?

"Does unbelievable seem a poor adjective? I'm in awe, really. I still say I didn't do the work," he said, but if pressed will admit that, had he not been involved, important milestones such as the Asian qualifying regatta likely would never have happened.

"It's most satisfying to have touched many people who might not have ever know about the sport," he said.

Garnjost has made a lifetime of service to his chosen communities; he is a life member of USRowing, a member of the Leander Club and Power 10; served as the President of the Columbia University Club, and on the Board of the Columbia University Club Foundation, and continues to serve as Vice Chairman of the Planning Board in his hometown of Stamford, CT.

And despite his "retirement" from international umpiring, Garnjost will likely be found on the water this spring. "I'm looking forward to a schedule in the spring of officiating races," he said. "Hart Perry told me I had finally reached Valhalla, but I don't think I'm there quite yet. Although I won't be doing as much as I have in the past, I want to remain active, to help where I can. As long as I feel I can make a contribution, I will."

Old refs don't disappear, they keep reffing on the Harlem.